Don't Forget Your Name

When legendary FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone infiltrated the Mafia under the alias Donnie Brasco, the world was captivated by one of the most famous undercover operations in American history. Books were written, a Hollywood film followed, and the name became part of American crime lore.

But what almost no one knew was that Donnie Brasco was never just an alias.

He was real.

In this powerful memoir, the man whose name was borrowed for one of the FBI’s most iconic operations tells his story for the first time. Growing up in the shadow of a family secret, he was forced to live with the weight of a name recognized by strangers, questioned by friends, and tied forever to a life he never chose. While the world celebrated a legend, he wrestled with faith, identity, loyalty, and the personal cost of carrying a name that no longer felt like his own.

From childhood confusion and years of secrecy to building a business, raising a family, and ultimately pursuing his own career with the FBI, this is a gripping story of resilience, purpose, and reclaiming identity.

Part true crime, part family memoir, and part personal journey, Don't Forget Your Name offers a perspective the world has never heard—until now.